President Bola Tinubu has called on state governments to urgently reconsider the location and operation of boarding schools in remote or poorly secured areas, warning that the rising wave of school attacks has made such institutions increasingly unsafe. His caution comes amid renewed concerns over the vulnerability of children and teachers in regions prone to banditry and terrorism.
The President’s warning followed a fresh surge of mass abductions recorded in Niger, Kebbi and several other states within the last week, where armed groups targeted schools and abducted dozens of students and teachers. The attacks have intensified pressure on security agencies and heightened anxiety among parents and education stakeholders nationwide.
In a statement personally signed on Wednesday, President Tinubu stressed that the location of schools has become a critical factor in the safety of learners. He noted that many boarding institutions operating in isolated areas lack the security infrastructure necessary to withstand coordinated attacks by insurgents and bandits.
According to him, the increasing boldness of armed groups makes it imperative for state authorities to reassess their school placement strategies. “States should rethink establishing boarding schools in remote areas without adequate security,” the President said, urging proactive measures to prevent further tragedies.
Tinubu also extended his security advisory to religious institutions, encouraging mosques and churches, particularly those in high-risk communities, to routinely engage the police and other security agencies for protection during prayer gatherings. He noted that criminals have expanded their targets beyond schools to include worship centres and vulnerable public gatherings.
Speaking on current rescue efforts, the President assured Nigerians that his administration remains fully committed to securing the release of all abducted citizens still in captivity. He highlighted that the ongoing operations to free the remaining students kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State remain a top priority for federal security agencies.
The President recalled that on Tuesday, his administration secured the safe release of all 24 remaining schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State, describing the development as evidence of the government’s sustained counter-kidnapping operations. He reiterated that more efforts were underway to ensure that no abducted student is left behind.
Beyond immediate security concerns, President Tinubu used the opportunity to address the persistent farmer–herder conflict that has destabilised several northern and central states over the years. He urged herders nationwide to end the practice of open grazing, surrender illegal weapons, and transition fully to ranching as part of a new national strategy for peace.
Tinubu argued that modern ranching remains the most sustainable path to resolving decades-long hostilities between farmers and herding communities. He disclosed that the Federal Government has now placed the search for a lasting solution at the centre of its national security priorities.
He explained that the creation of the newly established Ministry of Livestock forms a major pillar of the government’s long-term plan to overhaul livestock management and end violent confrontations over land use. The ministry, he said, has been tasked with developing modern frameworks for ranch establishment and livestock production.
The President appealed to all herder associations across the country to work closely with the Ministry of Livestock, adopt modern production techniques, and embrace ranch-based operations. He emphasised that the farmer–herder conflict has consistently contributed to nationwide insecurity, claiming lives and displacing families, particularly in the Middle Belt region.
Tinubu further noted that the new livestock policy is designed not only to minimise tensions over land but also to protect both farmers and herders from recurrent conflict. He stressed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with state governments, will provide full support for the transition to ranching, including measures to curtail the circulation of illegal arms.
As Nigeria grapples with simultaneous challenges of mass abductions, rural insecurity, and communal conflicts, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling the crisis on multiple fronts. He assured citizens that the government would sustain its security reforms while prioritising the protection of schools and vulnerable communities nationwide.
